Hey, product owners: Stop behaving as backlog owners!

In the text, the author contrasts the roles of backlog owners and product owners, advocating for a shift towards the latter to create real value within organizations. Backlog owners are often limited by corporate constraints, focusing on task completion and appeasing stakeholders without critically assessing the impact of their work. In contrast, product owners emphasize uncovering opportunities for value creation, measuring outcomes, and fostering partnerships with business leaders. The author provides a roadmap for transitioning from a backlog owner to an impactful product owner, emphasizing the importance of removing clutter, setting clear goals, and continuously evaluating feature usage. The journey requires persistence, the ability to challenge existing norms, and the pursuit of outcome-focused results. The author encourages product owners to inspire and empower their teams, highlighting that while the path is challenging and may initially face resistance from stakeholders, it ultimately leads to a more fulfilling and impactful career.